Cartridge.



Patented Dec. I8; |900; A. BBRAL-LN. lCARTRIDGE (Application filed July 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

lnvenlc or VVitne-sses ilNiTrgD Strains PATENT @trice ANTONY BARRALLON, OF S'l. ETIENNE, FRANCE.

CARTRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 664,116, dated December 1S, 1900. Application filed July 19. 1899. Serial No. 724,424. (No model.)

To all whrmt it may concer-12,:

Be it known that l, ANTONY BARRALLON, a citizen of the French Republic, residing in the city of St. Etienne, department of the Loire, France, have invented a new and useful Cartridge for Firearms of all Calibers and Descriptions, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in cartridges; and its object is to provide a cartridge which, on one hand, insures the in definite preservation of the powder charge conv tained therein by keeping it safe from the influence of humidity, and, on the other hand, acomplete and quick combustion of the charge, together with its casin g, as soon as the shot is fired in order to reduce the accessory work required for firing the gun to its strict minimum.

I attain the object by the cartridge shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a lon gitndinal section of the same, taken through its axis.

As will be seen from the drawing, the said cartridge consists, essentially, of the following parts:

First, a breech or bottom piece ct, of metal, embossed and suiciently thin and elastic as to insure the obturation ol' the cartridge under the pressure of the powder-gases.

Second, a cylindrical casing I), of Celluloid, terminated at its front end by a semispherical calotte and destined to contain the powder charge. This casingis of'smaller diameter than the metallic breech-piece a and is incased with its bottom end in the said breech in such a manner that a free air-space is left all around between it and the breech, des tined to furnish the air required for the combustion of the lower part of the casing. It will also be seen that by making the combustble casing-b of less diameter than the breechpiece u. the said casing will be of less diameter than the bore of the gun,thus forming an an n ular air-space between the casing and bore of the gun, so as to insurea complete combustion of said casing. Celluloid being impermeable, the casing b, together' with the breech a, form a hermetieally-closed powder-chamber which protects the powder from the influence of humidity.

rIfhird, a tube c, also of Celluloid, placed in the center of the cartridge and extending through the Whole length of the same. The tube widens at its bottom end, so that it forms there a mouthpiece which covers the percussion-cap or other detonator provided in the breech or bottom piece a. 'lhe tube c is filled with quick-burning powder which when thc gun is fired through the medium of the highly inflammable and combustible Celluloid tube c immediately ignites the powder charge contained in the casing Il throughout its whole length, so that as the celluloid casing burns away with the charge the cartridge, except its metallic breech, is enti relyconsumed without leaving the slightest residue in the bore of the gun.

It scarcely need to be' mentioned that the cartridge heretofore described and shown in the drawing is only a development of the invention, given as an example, which may be varied in form, construction, and dimensions, so as to adapt the cartridge to guns of all descriptions and calibers, and such changes would of course not constitute a ldeparture from the invention.

Vhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cartridge for firearms, consisting of a metallic breech ci having a percussion-cap or detonator in its center, au impermeable and combustible casing l) of smaller diameter than the breech and secured within and to the base of the same, and a highly in fiamma,

ble and combustible center tube c having a flaring end covering the detonator of the breech and extending therefrom to the outer V end of the casing, substantially as described. 2. A cartridge, comprising a combustible casing, a breech in which the casing is secured, the breech being of greater diameter than the casing and having its outer end surrounding the inner end of the casing and forming therewith an ai r-space open at its forward end, and au inflammable and combustible center tube, substantially as described.

3. A cartridge, comprising a combustible casing, a flexible breech-piece of greater diameter than the casing and in which the casing is secured, the outer flexible end of the breech surroundingr the inner end of the casing and forming thcrewithan annular airspace open at its forward end, and :i central IOO described.

4. A cartridge having an elastic metallic base, a celluloid casing attached to the base,l and a celluloid'tube extending from the bas` .through the longitudinal center'of the cartridge. A Y

5. A cartridge, comprising a breech, a combustible casing secured to the breech and adapted to contain the charge, and a combustible tube arranged in the center of the casing and extending from the breech through-- out the length of the casing with its inner end in engagement with the end of the casing, saidtube being adapted to contain a quickc burning powder, as and Y for the forthf 6. A cartridge, comprisin a breech-piece,

purpose set A will be formed between the easing and breechpiece and the casing and bore of the gun to I v insure'a complete combustion of said casing, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two witnesses.

- ANTONYA BARRALLON. Witnesses: A y 'A J EAN BAPTISTE MARTEL, JOSEPH MosELEY. 

